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The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers

Check out our list of the five best apps to help you keep track of your reading progress.

Last Updated on February 18, 2024 by BiblioLifestyle

The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Italic Type, Bookshelf, and Bookly

Are you looking for a book tracking app to keep track of the books you’re reading?  If so, you’ve come to the right place.  In this article, I will discuss five of the best book tracking apps available on the market right now.  We’ll break down each book app, talk about their main features, and discuss the pros and cons of using them.  So, whether you’re looking for a book app that can help you keep track of your reading progress or one that can recommend new books to read, we have you covered.

P.S. If you plan to keep a physical reading journal as well, check out our Everything You Need To Know About Reading Journals article.

What is book tracking?

Book tracking is the process of keeping track of the books you have read, are currently reading, and want to read.  You can do this manually by keeping a list in a notebook or on your phone or using one of the many book tracking apps available.  There are a few different ways to track your reading progress and different things to keep track of.  For example, some people like to keep track of how many pages they’ve read per day or week.  Others prefer to rate the books they’ve read on a scale of one to five stars.  And others mark each book as “read” once they finish it.  No matter how or what you choose to track, book tracking apps can make the process easier and more fun!

30 Practical Tips to Read More Books

Why you should track your books and reading?

There are a few reasons you might want to track the books you’re reading.  First, it can help you keep track of your reading progress and help you with your reading.  For example, if you’re trying to read one book per week, tracking your progress can help you stay on track.

Second, book tracking can help you remember the books you’ve read and what you thought of them.  This is especially helpful if you read a lot of books or if it’s been a while since you’ve read a particular book.

Finally, book tracking can help you decide what books to read next!  Tracking your books shows you the books you’ve enjoyed and those you didn’t care for.  In time, you’ll figure out what books work precisely for you and make better choices selecting what to read next.

P.S. Also check out my article: 3 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Reading Life

What are book tracking apps?

Book tracking apps are digital tools that help you track your reading habits.  You can use them to track the books you’ve read, the books you’re currently reading, and the books you want to read.  Most book tracking apps also allow you to rate and review the books you’ve read and make notes.

What are the benefits of using a book tracking app?

There are many benefits of book tracking apps.  First, book tracking apps make it easy to track your reading progress.  For example, you can open the app and log how many pages you’ve read or rate the book you’re currently reading.

Second, book tracking apps often have features that recommend new books for you to read based on the ones you’ve already read and enjoyed.  So, if you’re looking for some new book recommendations, book tracking with apps is a great way to get them!

Third, book tracking apps can help you remember the books you’ve read and what you thought of them.  This is especially helpful if you read a lot of books or if it’s been a while since you’ve read a particular book.

Finally, book tracking apps can help you keep track of your reading progress and provide valuable insights and statistics.

Now that we’ve discussed some of the benefits of book tracking apps let’s look at five of the best available book tracking apps.

The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Italic Type, Bookshelf, and Bookly

THE 5 BEST BOOK TRACKING APPS FOR READERS

There are a lot of book tracking apps out there, so how do you know which one is right for you? We will be discussing five of the best book tracking apps available. We’ll break down each app’s main features and discuss the pros and cons of using them. The five apps I will be covering are:

  1. Goodreads
  2. StoryGraph
  3. Italic Type
  4. Bookshelf
  5. Bookly
The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: Goodreads

GOODREADS

The first book tracking app we’ll discuss is Goodreads.  Goodreads is one of the most popular book tracking apps and has been around for over a decade.  Goodreads has a massive database of books, and it allows you to track your reading progress, rate and review the books you’ve read, and set goals for yourself.

One of the best things about Goodreads is that it’s free to use.  You can sign up for a free account and start tracking your books immediately.  Goodreads also has a large community of book lovers that you can connect with, which is great if you’re looking to discuss the books you’re reading with others, participate in discussion forums with other book lovers, read and engage with reviews and be a part of a large bookish community.

However, one downside of Goodreads is that Amazon owns it.  Additionally, some people find the interface on Goodreads to be confusing and difficult to use.  For example, it isn’t easy to find specific titles if it’s not typed in exactly, and the algorithm does not provide the best book recommendations.

The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: StoryGraph

STORYGRAPH

The second book tracking app we’ll discuss is StoryGraph.  StoryGraph is a newer book tracking app that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years.

StoryGraph has many of the same features as Goodreads, such as tracking your reading progress, rating and reviewing the books you’ve read, and setting goals for yourself.  However, one of the best things about StoryGraph is that it offers personalized book recommendations based on your reading habits, mood, favorite topics, and themes.  So, if you’re looking for a book tracking app that gives excellent recommendations, StoryGraph is a great option!

Another great thing about StoryGraph is that it’s free to use.  You can sign up for a free account and start using the app immediately.  Plus, it provides a lot of statistics if that is something of interest.  Another valuable feature is that StoryGraph provides content warnings for books that many readers find incredibly useful, and their statistics and graphs are great if you’re interested in your reading data.

However, one downside of StoryGraph is that it falls short in community and social media aspects, although they have added a lot of new features over the years.

The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: Italic Type

ITALIC TYPE

The third book tracking app we’ll discuss is Italic Type.  Italic Type is an excellent option for readers looking for an app that’s both simple to use and visually appealing with a sleek and modern interface.

Italic Type allows you to track your reading progress, set goals for yourself, and get book recommendations.  It makes keeping track of your books uncomplicated.  When you first log in, they recommend you start by filling up your bookshelves, and from there, you can add books to your “queue,” mark books you’ve completed, and books you’ve decided to “pause” for the time being.  Plus, they have a book board where you can record notes, quotes, or any thoughts you might have.  They also have a better alternative to discussing books with other readers.

One of the best things about Italic Type is that it is one of the “quieter” apps, and the focus is more on creating a personal reading experience.  The downside of Italic Type is that the community and social media aspect is not as developed when compared to other apps on the list, but they have added a lot of new features over the years.  In addition, it does not provide comprehensive statistics and does not have an app; it is only available for desktop and mobile through your preferred web browser.

The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: Bookshelf

BOOKSHELF

The next book tracking app we’ll discuss is Bookshelf.  Bookshelf is a book tracking app that helps readers build their digital libraries, motivate them to read more, and helps them achieve their reading goals.

When you first download the Bookshelf app, it asks you to set your reading goal.  Then, it allows you to add books to your library by importing lists, adding them manually, or scanning barcodes.  Other features include: setting up notifications to help you stay motivated to read, generating reading statistics and charts, annotating books you’re reading with notes and quotes, and you can create knowledge quizzes.

However, one downside of using Bookshelf is that it doesn’t have as many features as other book tracking apps we’ve discussed.  In addition, the app is only available on iOs and it has no community or social aspects.

The 5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers: Bookly

BOOKLY

Last but not least, we have Bookly.  Bookly is a book tracking app that’s great for book lovers who want to be motivated to read more consistently.  It promotes itself as an app to help readers make reading a habit.

When you first open the app, it guides you through setting your reading goals.  For example, you will select the number of books you want to read in a year, how much time you want to read per day (30 mins, an hour, etc.), and when you want to read by setting the times you want to dedicate to reading each day of the week.  You can also set up notifications to help remind you to read.

It then allows you to add books to your library manually or scan barcodes and organize them according to collections.  Other features include: setting up reminders to help you stay motivated to read, daily, monthly, and yearly reading goals, generating custom reading reports and cool book infographics, the ability to digitally annotate your books, play ambient sounds while you read, estimate remaining time for each book, and participate in readathons and challenges.

However, one downside is that Bookly’s free version has a limit of adding only ten books, most of the features require a subscription, and the app has no built-in social elements.

Fall In Love with Reading Again

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BOOK APP TO TRACK YOUR READING?

Now that we’ve discussed five of the best book tracking apps, you might be wondering how to choose the right one for you.  Here are a few things to consider when selecting a book tracking app:

– Ease of use:

You want a book tracking app that is easy to use and navigate and that you feel comfortable with.

– Features:

What features are you looking for in a book tracking app?  Do you want an app that tracks your reading progress or an app that allows you to add notes and highlights?  Do you care more about getting the best recommendations or want to be motivated?  Select an app that has the features you value most.

– Cost:

Some book tracking apps are free, while others require a monthly or annual subscription.   Consider how much you’re willing to spend on a book tracking app before making your decision.

What book tracking apps do you use?

All apps have their pros and cons, but I hope that reviewing the points I’ve laid out will help you narrow your options and find the perfect app for your book tracking and reading needs.

Do you use book apps?  What features are most important to you in an app?  Let us talk all about book tracking in the comments below!

P.S. If you plan to keep a physical reading journal as well, check out our Everything You Need To Know About Reading Journals article.

MORE READING:

5 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers

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  1. cherreadssharereads says:

    Reading List for iOS!!!

  2. Katie says:

    I love using Bookmory because of the calendar feature. I use the Goodreads website (the app has much fewer capabilities) for reviews and getting recommendations from trusted sources.

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